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NDLEA Intercepts Illicit Drugs Concealed in Cartons, Jackets at Lagos Airport and Across States

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 22nd, 2026.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos have uncovered multiple attempts by drug trafficking networks to smuggle illicit substances, including opioids and methamphetamine, through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and other parts of the country.

According to the agency, some of the drugs were cleverly hidden in unusual items such as carton walls, winter jackets, and body cream containers, with destinations linked to Europe and other regions. Sunday Punch reports that the seizures form part of intensified operations targeting international trafficking routes.

At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers intercepted a passenger, Friday Ehianuka, who was preparing to board a flight to Rome. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of thousands of tramadol pills concealed inside skin care containers. Investigators say the suspect admitted he was promised payment in foreign currency for successfully delivering the drugs abroad.

In a separate operation at the departure hall, another passenger, Christian Agbonhese, was arrested while attempting to travel to Milan. Large quantities of opioids were recovered from his baggage, hidden inside bulky winter jackets, bringing the total number of pills seized from him to tens of thousands, according to The Nation.

The agency also disrupted drug shipments routed through courier services in Lagos. Two parcels containing a potent strain of cannabis, locally known as “loud,” were intercepted after arriving from the United States, while another consignment of methamphetamine concealed within carton structures was stopped before being exported to New Zealand.

Beyond Lagos, NDLEA operations extended to several states. In Kano, operatives arrested suspects in possession of large quantities of skunk, while in Lagos, thousands of bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered during a raid in the Ijora area. Additional arrests were made along the Third Mainland Bridge involving suspects transporting similar substances.

Further seizures were recorded in Edo, Oyo, Abuja, Kaduna, Taraba, and Adamawa states, where officers intercepted vehicles, homes, and transit routes used to move significant quantities of tramadol and cannabis. Daily Timesreports that some of the consignments involved tens of thousands of pills hidden in vehicle compartments and commercial transport systems.

In addition to enforcement efforts, the agency said it has continued its nationwide sensitisation campaign under the War Against Drug Abuse initiative, targeting schools, religious centres, and communities to curb drug misuse.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across various commands for their vigilance and urged them to sustain the momentum in combating drug trafficking and abuse nationwide, according to The Guardian Nigeria.

The latest operations highlight the evolving tactics of drug traffickers and the agency’s intensified response to disrupt both local distribution and international smuggling networks.